"The money's in the basement." —Karen Carpenter, explaining why she sang in low tones despite having an impressive vocal range
"But Richard is the star"The money's in the basement." —Karen Carpenter, explaining why she sang in low tones despite having an impressive vocal range
"But Richard is the star, Karen's just the drummer." —Agnes Carpenter, blatantly favoring one of her children and completely misjudging the Carpenters' sound
Karen Carpenter and her brother Richard chased success. They wanted money and fame and popularity, and as a result they tended to choose safe, dated, or even reactionary musical styles. Even during and after the period where their sales plateaued, they strongly resisted trying new styles and forms. As a result, many music fans considered them to be awkward, sentimental, or fake. But THAT VOICE. It's one of the most distinctive and appealing in pop music history.
Karen and Richard's mother sounds appalling, blatantly favoring Richard and discouraging Karen from seeking therapy for the anorexia that killed her. Their father is meekly uncommunicative. And Richard sounds controlling and tiresome, full of bitterness and complaints whether the records are selling well or not. (The one time in the book when he seems pleased about something is in 1994, when the superb tribute album If I Were a Carpenter came out.)
Both Richard and Karen experienced severe anxiety, which they sought to control in different ways. Richard got addicted to downers, but because doctors had a better idea of how to treat his addiction, he survived. Karen became anorexic and bulimic and abused laxatives. Doctors knew very little about treating eating disorders at the time, so she did not survive.
Also, Karen dealt with a tremendous amount of sexism. Her brother and their record company made her give up the drums and front the band. They criticized her drum playing, but there was never any effort to make her better at the drums. Take a look at this clip to see how talented she was: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o82d9... If you don't have time for the whole thing, just watch the drum solo at the end.
The other thing that gets me is how (male) colleagues assumed they understood her without asking her about anything. The parents considered Richard a musical prodigy from the age of three. They moved the family from Connecticut to southern California when the kids were teenagers so that Richard would have a better chance of professional success. Karen watched and listened all the time. She tried different instruments without much success. She became obsessed with jazz drumming as a young teenager. She worked with a choral teacher for years, both before and after she got famous. She joined the high school marching band and became the first girl on the drum line there, working her way up to co-leading the band. She experimented with singing in a higher and a lower register. And then she goes to an audition with Richard when she's sixteen and these guys insist "she was born with that voice, it just came out of her." What absolute bullshit. She worked and researched and strategized to get that sound....more
Feminist analysis and criticism of what the author calls the Upskirt Decade. She even throws in a cogent explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis iFeminist analysis and criticism of what the author calls the Upskirt Decade. She even throws in a cogent explanation of the subprime mortgage crisis in the chapter on Kim Kardashian. It doesn't really fit there, but I'm impressed anyway. I didn't know much about the wrestler Chyna, so that was the most interesting chapter to me....more
This is a combination of an audiobook and 15 songs from a musical about the same character. The songs are all at the end instead of being sprinkled thThis is a combination of an audiobook and 15 songs from a musical about the same character. The songs are all at the end instead of being sprinkled throughout. I thought this was darling and the cast gave a superb performance. My husband found it so annoying that I could listen to it only when he was out of the house....more
Dolly Parton fan: How long does it take to style your hair? Dolly Parton: I don't know. I'm never there.
Who sometimes wears three wigs at once, one on Dolly Parton fan: How long does it take to style your hair? Dolly Parton: I don't know. I'm never there.
Who sometimes wears three wigs at once, one on top of the other? Who is still exploring new-to-her musical genres and striving to be a better person every day? Who had an illiterate father and yet is now a juggernaut in business and philanthropy? Dolly Parton, of course.
In this coffee-table-sized book, Dolly reflects on her career, personal growth, clothes, and accessories. (One chapter is called, "I Will Always Love . . . Shoes.") As always, she radiates lovingkindness and is generous and specific when giving credit to others. No wonder some of her employees have worked for her for 30 years. And she's funny!
While Dolly has always had her own style rather than following fashion trends, I think this book would be interesting to anyone who is into fashion, textiles, or fame. This book is intelligently written and thoughtfully curated. And on the cover, has Dolly's dress been subtly stippled so that it shimmers and glimmers as you open the book? Well, of course it has....more
This started out a bit ponderous, but I really enjoyed these thoughtful and contemplative essays on "art monsters" including Roman Polanski, Woody AllThis started out a bit ponderous, but I really enjoyed these thoughtful and contemplative essays on "art monsters" including Roman Polanski, Woody Allen, Miles Davis, Sylvia Plath, Doris Lessing, and others. I even laughed out loud a couple of times, which is surprising considering the subject matter....more
Wall Street Journal reporter chooses songs that he believes exemplify American pop music and interviews the artists, lyricists, songwriters, arrangersWall Street Journal reporter chooses songs that he believes exemplify American pop music and interviews the artists, lyricists, songwriters, arrangers, musicians, producers, promoters, and others. Some of these get very technical in terms of song structure or instruments used. Others focus on the meanings of the songs or their impact on the performers' personal lives. I'll have to see if I can get the first volume....more
The Little Golden Book people have released a biography of Taylor Swift! (Others in the series include Betty White and Misty Copeland.) Taylor's middlThe Little Golden Book people have released a biography of Taylor Swift! (Others in the series include Betty White and Misty Copeland.) Taylor's middle name is Alison! When she was a little girl growing up on a Christmas tree farm, her job was to remove praying mantis egg pods from trees! I enjoyed this book because it discussed her art, family, hobbies, determination, character, and success and did not say ONE WORD about her boyfriends....more
I never knew Prince was a dance student. But based on how he danced when I saw him in concert, I'm not surprised. This is an interesting and vibrant bI never knew Prince was a dance student. But based on how he danced when I saw him in concert, I'm not surprised. This is an interesting and vibrant book, and the author points out that Prince gave many women a chance to be drummers, singers, keyboard players, and so on....more
Combination of personal essays and cultural analysis. The focus is One Direction, a now-dissolved male vocal group (I don't want to say "boy band" becCombination of personal essays and cultural analysis. The focus is One Direction, a now-dissolved male vocal group (I don't want to say "boy band" because that sounds condescending), and its most famous alum, Harry Styles. Most people believe that fan cultures are monolithic, but many 1D members don't fit the stereotype of "teenage white cishet girl who has a crush on someone in the band." The author interviews 1D fans who are black, gay, male, older, not interested romantically in the 1D guys, and so on. Interesting material on the "Larry Stylinson" conspiracy theory. I'm baffled as to why the author says almost nothing about Kpop fans even though they're one of the most numerous, savvy, and powerful fandoms out there....more
Lively and entertaining history of pop music. Probably the most fun part of this is figuring out why Breihan chose the 20 songs he did. I went from saLively and entertaining history of pop music. Probably the most fun part of this is figuring out why Breihan chose the 20 songs he did. I went from saying, "The Twist? Really? Who still cares about the Twist?" to "Ohh, this is an essay about the history of dance crazes. I get it. Let me do the Mashed Potato and the Hustle and the Macarena and some TikTok dances while I'm listening." The audiobook reader has an appealing voice but pronounces a lot of words strangely. Still, I would recommend this book in either audio or print form, depending on what you prefer. The audio doesn't have any samples of the reviewed music, but everything's fairly easy to find on the internet....more
I'm not British so I have no idea if this guy is extremely famous or more of a niche performer. I think he and his castmates are hilarious, though.I'm not British so I have no idea if this guy is extremely famous or more of a niche performer. I think he and his castmates are hilarious, though....more
"For the first time, Eunice wondered if being Black meant an end to all of her dreams."
I didn't think a picture book could be such a compelling biogra"For the first time, Eunice wondered if being Black meant an end to all of her dreams."
I didn't think a picture book could be such a compelling biography. The end note provides extra context and more details about her life. The collage illustrations are complex and fantastical....more
Essays about history and popular culture by Chuck Klosterman. My favorite parts (I'm paraphrasing because I have the audiobook rather than the print cEssays about history and popular culture by Chuck Klosterman. My favorite parts (I'm paraphrasing because I have the audiobook rather than the print copy):
• In the 1990s, if you missed an episode of Seinfeld, you could either videotape it or catch it again in summer reruns. If you missed it the second time, you could travel to a broadcasting museum in either New York or Los Angeles and request a copy. But hardly anybody ever did this because back then NOBODY CARED about an individual episode of a TV show.
• Soda manufacturers spent millions introducing clear versions of products. The notion was that consumers believed that clear products were purer or had fewer additives. (They weren't and didn't.) But companies went ahead and spent all that money for products nobody asked for. There were plenty of people who didn't drink Pepsi. But not one of them refused Pepsi because they thought it was too brown.
Klosterman reads most of the book himself, with a voice actor helping him out with footnotes and excerpts. It was fun basically having CK chat to me while I loaded the dishwasher and made scones and did laundry. He almost made me care about college football. ...more
I love oral histories. A lot of the people interviewed in this book love oral something else.
This is an affectionate, detailed look at 1980s-era bandsI love oral histories. A lot of the people interviewed in this book love oral something else.
This is an affectionate, detailed look at 1980s-era bands who were part of the hair metal/cock rock/glam metal movement. They fought and made up and succeeded and failed and had confidence and doubts. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the most hairsprayed of times.
The authors and at least some of the interviewees understand that sexism was a problem during this era. So there's an attempt to address that. I especially liked the interviews with the former members of the band Vixen, who seem to be smart and levelheaded women. I especially disliked the interview with someone I had never heard of, who said he would never want to be in a band with chicks unless the band was Heart. First of all, I don't think the members of Heart would touch him to scratch him. But what's really sad is that he still doesn't seem to understand that he dismissed 51 percent of the population for no good reason.
There's a little in here about homophobia, but at the time nobody seemed genuinely upset about it except Kurt Cobain. He was of a slightly younger generation, of course, so that may have been part of it. It seems odd that in all these bands with all these musicians, apparently nobody was gay or bisexual.
There's nothing in here about race. It seems deeply weird to me that in a movement that took place in Southern California, practically everybody interviewed is white. Everybody admires Slash, and there's one mention of Living Colour. That's it.
Of all the massive egos in this book, the one I enjoyed reading most about was Kip Winger. Tall, handsome, talented, intelligent, insufferable. Just full of defensiveness, even after all these years, and seemingly always ready to tear down others' talent and accomplishments. All I remember about him from back in the day is that he had great hair and they were mean to him on that Beavis and Butt-Head show. I figured it was a bad roasting but that his fans wouldn't care. It turns out that three days after the Beavis show aired, they had to cancel the Winger tour. The poor man got laughed at in a McDonald's. All that would stick with me, too.
Reasons this type of music went out of style, according to the authors and interviewees:
• SoundScan was invented, so sales figures were suddenly far more accurate instead of just estimates. It turned out that lots more people were buying country music than anyone realized. (Also rap and hip-hop, but the book doesn't mention that.)
• The record companies hired too many of the same type of band and flooded the market.
• Most of these bands sounded similar, and almost all of them looked similar.
• It was a new decade, and people wanted a new sound and a new look.
• In a brief period, several bands released albums that confounded their fans' expectations.
• A lot of bands either had addiction problems, didn't communicate well, got too caught up in the fringe benefits instead of focusing on music or even marketing, or simply ran out of ideas. ...more
A delightful romp with a tender message about not limiting yourself to one quality, characteristic, or way of being. I hope to read many more adventurA delightful romp with a tender message about not limiting yourself to one quality, characteristic, or way of being. I hope to read many more adventure stories about Penelope. ...more
"It's been so long since your vital signs went / And you don't look the same in that oxygen tent" —"Pull the Plug" by Starz, an unintentionally hilari"It's been so long since your vital signs went / And you don't look the same in that oxygen tent" —"Pull the Plug" by Starz, an unintentionally hilarious attempt at a serious song about Karen Ann Quinlan that I sincerely believe may have been the inspiration for Spinal Tap
This is a quest by a rock critic to explain the impact of four bands that released albums in the 1970s: KISS, Cheap Trick, Aerosmith, and Starz. "Who are or were Starz?" you might ask. They were never very successful, but the author believes they had significant influence on younger rock musicians. I don't know about that, but including a never-was band in this book makes it a lot more interesting and poignant. To my untrained ear, Starz sound great, even though some of their lyrics are awful. And their record company put a ton of money into promoting them. They just never caught on.
Including Cheap Trick is also poignant because they have spent most of their careers struggling. And KISS and Aerosmith are interesting because of their success, their rivalry, and their tantrums. All four of these bands included tantrum-having members, but KISS and Aerosmith are richer, so they have more opportunities for bigger shenanigans.
Some interesting (and sometimes tragic) gossip from the book:
* Gene Simmons, famous for being extraordinarily mean and petty, mentions his nickname for the eternally crabby Peter Criss, based on Criss's original name: Ayatollah Criscuola.
* Cheap Trick's Rick Nielsen flatly states that Aerosmith's Steven Tyler is a heroin addict.
* Aerosmith love Cheap Trick and invited CT to open for them. But Aerosmith canceled so many concerts (one allegedly because Tyler screamed at Aerosmith's employees for so long that he damaged a blood vessel in his neck) that CT lost money. The next time CT opened for Aerosmith, they insured Aerosmith. That entire tour got canceled, but CT made money anyway because of the insurance payout.
* Steven Tyler's heel got torn off in a motorcycle accident.
* Joe Perry and Steven Tyler hate each other but own a restaurant together?! Even though restaurants are known to lose money frequently and therefore are usually considered risky investments, and Perry and Tyler are already in a risky investment together, namely a rock band?
* Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley hate each other but put on massive tours together because money?! I guess it worked for Simon and Garfunkel.
* Peter Criss bitches all the time about everything, but if my bandmates paid me $10K a night while they made millions, I might bitch all the time too.
* Tom Peterssen's marrying a model and then having her manage his career right into the ground also has some strong Spinal Tap vibes.
While reading this book, I couldn't help thinking of a Robert Plant interview I read years ago. The interviewer asked how Plant felt about Aerosmith and other rock bands trying to imitate his work in Led Zeppelin. Plant laughed and said something along the lines of, "They should try harder. Aerosmith are a pop band." So I'm guessing that everybody quoted in this book loves Robert Plant, yet he probably disdains them all. That's rock & roll....more
Nostalgic look at the making of a film that tried to be anti-nostalgic. Reflections on two bygone eras: the 1970s and the 1990s. The author must be trNostalgic look at the making of a film that tried to be anti-nostalgic. Reflections on two bygone eras: the 1970s and the 1990s. The author must be tremendously charming and patient, because she has managed to secure the participation of scores of people, many of whom are now very famous. ...more
Sweet and fun account of Dolly Parton's tremendous success as a singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and humanitarian. I wasn't crazy about the artist'sSweet and fun account of Dolly Parton's tremendous success as a singer, songwriter, businesswoman, and humanitarian. I wasn't crazy about the artist's style, but the pictures make the book friendly and inviting. Kids will enjoy finding the little butterfly on every page....more
"There was a time in my early childhood when I didn’t believe I was worthy of being alive."
I am amused that a few reviewers have said this memoir is t"There was a time in my early childhood when I didn’t believe I was worthy of being alive."
I am amused that a few reviewers have said this memoir is too braggy. This is Mariah Carey we're talking about. It isn't bragging if you've really done it.
To me, the most impressive part of this memoir is her recounting the racism that she and her family had experienced. I am a casual fan of hers, so I knew she had struggled growing up in a biracial family. But her descriptions of aggressions large and small are searing. I won't summarize them because you really need to read them in her own words.
Mariah definitely burns bridges in this book. She calls out her mother, brother, sister, and (to a lesser extent) her father, detailing their crimes. Literal crimes, not just bad behavior. I thought she was washing her hands of the whole family, but it turns out there's a nephew she really likes, so he gets invited to Christmas.
There is lots of fun gossip here about boyfriends, husbands, celebrities, live television events, fashion, and so on.
Her all-time favorite musical performer: Stevie Wonder.
The celebrity she feels the strongest connection with: Marilyn Monroe.
Her favorite diva: Aretha Franklin.
Someone who helped her spiritually at the worst time in her life: Prince.
Celebrities she will not name in the book because she thinks their behavior was appalling: Jennifer Lopez, Celine Dion.
Problem with the first husband: Terrifying and controlling.
Problem with the second husband: A childlike sense of fun turned out to be a tiresome childishness.
Celebrity I wished she had given a little more credit to: Donna Summer.
Number of massively successful albums she made before she understood that she had devoted fans: Four.
"I was always so scared as a little girl, and music was my escape."...more
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